Electronic tube socket, hermetically sealed



' June 29, 1948. C. N. KELLER 7 2,444,043

' ELECTRONIC TUBE SOCKET, .HERLETICALLY SEALED 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 28. 1945 INVENTOR CHARLES N. KELLER av flym 9,

ATTORNEY I June 29, 1948. c. N. KELLER I 2,444,043

' ELECTRONIC TUBE SOCKET, HERMETICALLY SEALED Filed Aug. 28, 1945 v ZShee'ts-Sheet 2 FIG.3

INVENTOR CHARLES N. KELLER ATTORNEY I tions.

Patented June 29, 1948 OFFICE ELECTRONIC rum: SOCKET, HERMETI- CALLY SEALED Charles N. Keller, Dayton, Ohio Application August 28, 1945, Serlal No. 613,199 '2 Claims. (Cl. 173-328) (oi-amen under the m of March a, 1m, as

amended April 30, 1928; 370 0. G. 157) The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government for governmental purposes, without the payment to meof any royalty thereon. I

The invention to be hereinafter described.relates to hermetically sealed tube sockets or connectors.

Where the pin and prong or split tube type is used employing a plurality of cooperating members all or a large number of them being simultaneously coupled by the usual plug-in action, there is always the possibility that one or more of the elements may be slightly out of the necessary positions or locations for proper, adequate and complete connections. Where that is the case. the actions of plugging in, due to such misalignment compels "an adjustment or adapte tion of one or the other of said cooperating elements. It has been common practice -to.rigidly anchor the pins and the prongs or split tubes in their respective bases, supports, foundations or other. parts by which they are carried and handled. At the present time it is common practice to mount the pins in a glass base or similar part. When this member is plugged in, the cooperating prongs or split tubes being unyieldingly mounted in their base, all improperly placed pins will be forced toward proper posi- This frequently causes cracking of glass base carrying the pins, with obvious destruction of thepin member of the respective element.

The main objects of the present inventions are to avoid the above and other objections and provide a simple, very compact, eflicient, sturdy or durable, hermetically sealed tube socket or connector construction and assembly of minimum dimensions and size and capable of quantity productions at relatively low cost.

In order to more clearly disclose the construction, operation and use of the invention, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings forming part of the present application.

Throughout the several figures of the drawings, like reference characters designate the name parts in the different views.

' In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the base and assembled prongs of the preferred form of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a cross section on line 2--2 of Fig 1 with ,inclosing shell;

ragga is a view similar to Fig. 2, showing a modification;

modification of the cormection between a chassis or the like and the invention;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary detail in-' dicating relative pin and prong or split tube position, immediately prior to assembly; and

Fig. 6 is a top plan view of the preferred form, assembled, on about the same scale of Fig. 1.

The several views of the drawings show the invention greatly enlarged as a matter of clearor base I of glass or a ceramic material provides a mount or support for a plurality of prong members which are flexibly anchored, as will hereinafter be set forth in more detail. This body orbase is provided with a plurality of axially extending, radially disposed, chambers 2. These chambers, opening through one face of base I extend through it to within a short distance of the opposite face. Aligned with, communicating with, and extending through the remaining portions of base i is an opening or passage 3. Each chamber 2 is proportioned to loosely completely receive a split tube prong or socket member 4 of usual and well known construction. Chambers 2 are of substantially the same length as the split tubes 4, or slightly longer, of substantially greater lateral cross section and may be of any desired lateral cross or sectional outline such as square, circular, elliptical, etc;, capable of adequately receiving and accommodating the respective members 4 with due allowance for the desired movement and flexibility of the member in such respective chambers. As usual, .each prong member is provided with a contact member 5 of usual and well known construction, either integrally formed with the split tube or suitably secured thereto. In the usual and well known construction and arrangement, the part 5 is in approximate alignment with the split tube 4. It will be clear that, with such disposition of the parts, there would be no construction acting to retain the split tubes 4 in their respective chambers 2.

In order to retainsplit tubes 4 in their respec- Fig.4 isafra gmentary detail showingafurther 46 tive chambers 2 their contact strips 5, after provided against dirt. dust, moisture 3 being passed through the passages 3 are abruptly offset at approximate right angles to provide a base engaging, holding or locking branch or arm 8. In assembling a prong member and its contact terminal in base i, the offset 8 extends radially outwardly from the outer wall of the respective chamber.

mu, extending opening I! with countersink at for solder I! for anchoring IS in l. Removably countersink It. As usual, it is'provided with a Accordingly, the end portion 1 of contact terminal, which part is parallel with the member 4, is radially beyond and out of line relatively to the respective chamber 2. As a result: the ofl'set"6 engages the adjacent face or wall of base i and constitutes a stop, prevent- I 'body i. In assembled relation, it will be noticed.

the shell and base are not closely nested. They do not contact. They are spaced apart by a plurality of barrier and spacing ribs 9. Those same ribs also perform an additional and wholly different function, as will hereinafter mor fully appear. Since theshell, in operative position, receives and encloses base or body i and its related parts, provision must be made for exten-, sion therethrough of the end portions 1 of the contact members 5. For this purpose, the base of shell 8 is provided with a plurality of passages or openings ll corresponding in number to the number of chhmbers 2 in l and so shaped and disposed as to freely receive and pass the ends I of members 5 in such manner that they will pro- ,iect therebeyond for the usual connections. Since the openings iii are disposed to receive the-ends I which are radially beyond chambers 2, those pasterminal contact l8 which, extends through a passage through 8 and .is hermetically sealed therein by solder, as in the case oi terminal con- .tact strips 5.. The usual tube may be seated in that central socket in well known manner.

-' From the above, itwill be noted that base .5 and shell I are connected by the contact terminals only. Due to the flexibility imparted by the oilsets and the further fact that the only connection is a surface engagement and not a fixed fastening connection, there is no rigidity of the split metal tubular prong member. Consequently, as the pins II are inserted in the members 4 those members are free to move and do move to adjust themselves to any inaccuracies in the mounting or spacing of the pins; As a result of this, the

pins will not be forced from their fixed positions and their glass base or mount will not be cracked and destroyed. Nor will the members A or their mounting be damaged as in the case where members l are permanently fixed in their positions and can not yield. Nor is there any danger of injuring or destroying any of the various hermetic seals where the terminals pm through the shell 8.

To complete the hermetic seal assembly, an attaching dance it may be secured to the lower outer circumferential wall of the shell 8 and that, in turn. may be suitably secured in any well known manner to the chassis of any desired piece "of equipment. In the modification of Fig. v3 a Y plate i9 is substituted for the shell 8, the two hesages will also be beyond and out of alignment with chambers 2. With the shell disposed relatively close to base I, though slightly spaced, each offset 6 will provide considerable flexibility. In order to securely anchor the member I and its terminal contact 561 against movement relative to shell 8, the contact end I where it passes out of IO is'securely anchored in 8 by solder ll. Preferably, shallow countersinks, wells. or pockets are formed concentric with the outer ends of I to receive the solder. Byusing any one of a number of well known solders a hermetic seal may be and conditions of high altitude.

The difliculties of glass-to-glass, metal-to-glass and similar soldering connections, have been overcome by well known practicesin which the respective surfaces are first metal coated. Since such steps are no part oi the present invention and. are well known to those skilled in the art to which this invention relates more detailed description is not advisable in this application.

While a single, simple right angle, oflset or bend has been illustrated and described, it is to be understood that a very wide range of bends or oil'sets may be used and that any bend or oifset which will provide the desired flexibility of connection between the tubular prong member and shell 8 is considered as falling within the field of the present invention. Such flexibility permits approximately universal movement of split tube 4 relatively to the anchored part of I in the shell so that they may make any adjusting movement. In addition to the several chambers 2 base *4 may be provided with a centrally-disposed and ing hermetically sealed circumferentially along the adjacent edges. as at 20. In this form, a somewhat difierent type of attaching flange is used.

While the construction of Fig. 2 is the preferred construction, the connection there shown between the shell and a chassis may be simplified in accordance with the showing of Fig.4. In Fig. 4 it will be noticed that the shell 8 is formed with a circumferential, radially outwardly extending or annular shoulder 2|. This shoulder may be hermetically sealed direct to the adjacent edge of the chassis or other part. without any intervening connecting flange. Various other connections between the base or body i or cup 8 and a chassis or equivalent member may, obviously, be used. From the above it will be clear that'the unit containing the prong members is thoroughly hermetically sealed at every point where sealing is necessary, including the points of outlet for the contact terminals and the connections between that unit and an equipment chassis or other partwith which the unit is to be connected.

Reference was made earlier to barriers and spacing ribs 9. These ribs, in addition to spacing the shell and base. as will ,be clear on reference to Fig. 1, extend between the contact terminals of .the successive electrically conductive elements 4. This intervention completely isolates and insulates successive conductors and provides an increased dielectric, path between adjacent conductors. As a further assurance, a second set of such barriers l is provided on the outer face or wall of the shell 8 or plate l9. This second set has, of course, no mechanical spacing function corresponding to that of ribs 9. Its function is entirely that of electrical isolation and insulation and increased dielectric path.

Glass and ceramic material have been stated as preferred material. It is to be clearly understood that various acceptable plastics as well as any other suitable material may be used.

ing the plug-in connection. Likewise it is applicable whether one pin and cooperating prong or many such are involved.

It is thought'that the construction, operation and use of the invention will be clear from the preceding detailed description.

Many changes may be made in the construction, arrangement and disposition of various parts of the invention within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the field of the invention and it is meant to include all such within this application wherein only one preferred form with several modifications have been illustrated, purely by way of example, and with no thought or intention to, in any degree, limit the invention thereby.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. A socket assembly comprising a base, a plurality of tubular members resiliently mounted therein, each of said members carrying a contact strip, a shell enclosing said base in spaced relationship thereto, each of said strips extending space between said base and shell being oflset irom said other portions, means anchoring said strips in said shell. dielectric barriers between said base and shell and extending between successive contact strips, and external dielectric barriers carried by said shell and extending between successive contact strips.

2, A socket assembly to receive resiliently the pin members carried by a tube, said socket comprising a base having a plurality of terminal chambers, a shell enclosing one end of said base and in spaced relationship thereto, and a plurality of contact strips, each of said strips having a contact portion and a terminal portion, said contact portion being out of register with said chamber and extending through and external of said shell and aflixed thereto, said terminal portion being positioned within said chamber and having a transverse dimension substantially less thanthe transverse dimension of said chamber whereby said terminal portion may move laterally within said chamber, each of said strips being shaped to form/a shoulder between said contact and terminal portions, said shoulder being disposed in the space determined by the spacing between said base and said shell whereby said terminal portion may be laterally and longitudinally displaced to engage flexibly said pin members. CHARLES N. KELLER.

REFERENCES orrEn The following references are of record in the iile of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

